Overview of Recent Cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union (October–December 2014)

Abstract

For all those following the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in social security matters, the last three months of 2014 were particularly interesting.1 The CJEU delivered its long-awaited judgment in the ‘social tourism case’ of Dano, expressed itself (once again) on the powers of the European Union (EU) to adopt social security measures vis-à-vis third countries (Turkey in United Kingdom v Council) and provided important clarification about the rights of third-country nationals who de facto cannot be treated for the illnesses they suffer from in their countries of origin (M'Bodj and Abdida). In addition, the CJEU delivered noteworthy rulings on planned hospital treatment in other Member States (Petru), old-age pensions (Larcher; Somova) and family benefits (Fassbender-Firman; Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund).